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Climate‐change impacts exacerbate conservation threats in island systems: New Zealand as a case study
Author(s) -
MacinnisNg Cate,
Mcintosh Angus R,
Monks Joanne M,
Waipara Nick,
White Richard SA,
Boudjelas Souad,
Clark Charlie D,
Clearwater Michael J,
Curran Timothy J,
Dickinson Katharine JM,
Nelson Nicola,
Perry George LW,
Richardson Sarah J,
Stanley Margaret C,
Peltzer Duane A
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1002/fee.2285
Subject(s) - climate change , biodiversity , habitat fragmentation , habitat destruction , ecosystem , habitat , ecology , environmental resource management , geography , conservation biology , environmental science , biology
Rapid advances in eradicating invasive species from islands are improving conservation outcomes in these biodiversity hotspots. However, recent conservation gains could be reversed not only by future invasions from non‐native species but also by future extinctions of native taxa, both of which may be facilitated by – or exacerbated by interactions among drivers of – global environmental change. We highlight relevant knowledge gaps that must be filled to reduce uncertainty about the ecological effects of future climate change. We use Aotearoa New Zealand as a case study of island ecosystems to demonstrate that in addition to sea‐level rise, most ecologically meaningful impacts of climate change on biodiversity responses are indirect and due to exacerbation of existing threats, including the impact of invasive species as well as the loss and fragmentation of habitat. We identify key topics where progress is needed to future‐proof conservation management for island ecosystems susceptible to the direct and indirect effects of climate change.